Ice drug worth R2 crore seized with arrest of UP man

The local police on Friday seized 200g methamphetamine, the controlled drug known by its streetname "ice", with the arrest of a 21-year-old resident of Shahjahanpur of Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, the recovered drugs cost Rs 2 crore in the international market.

The accused, Naseem, had come to Ludhiana to sell the drugs among addicts. He was arrested when he was passing by the Basti Jodhewal Chowk.

A case under section 22/61/85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against the accused.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (east) Satish Malhotra claimed that the accused confessed that before coming to Ludhiana he was in Mumbai where he had established his network and supplied drugs among addicts.

"Naseem confessed that the 'ice' drug was expensive. Therefore, he came to Ludhiana, as he knew that addicts here could afford the narcotic," the ACP added.

Giving further details, Malhotra said the accused used to procure the narcotics from Pilibhit of Uttar Pradesh, adding that the accused also revealed that his two more counterparts were already active in Ludhiana. The police are questioning the accused to know about their whereabouts.

It is pertinent to mention that the Division Number 8 police had dug out ice drug from an evacuated land of old courts around four years ago following a tip off. The drug was packed in a plastic container.

Know the drug

Ice is a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug, which speed up the messages going to and from the brain. Ice is more potent than other forms of amphetamines. It is more pure than the powder form of methamphetamine (speed).

Ice often appears as large, transparent and 'sheet-like' crystals that may have a hint of pink, blue or green colour. Other street names for ice include meth, d-meth, crystal, crystal meth, shabu, batu, tina and glass.